Faculty Senate By Laws

ARTICLE VIII

COMMITTEES

Appointment and Membership

Except for committee members designated in these Bylaws, members of all standing and special committees of the Senate shall be elected by the Senate. Subcommittees of committees may be chosen by the membership of such committees.

The Nominating, Elections, and Procedures Committee shall prepare and present a slate of nominees for the Executive Committee and all standing committees for election at the May Senate meeting.

All Senators are required to serve on at least one Faculty Senate standing committee. No faculty member may serve on more than two Faculty Senate standing committees or serve as chair of two Faculty Senate standing committees.

All voting members of the General Faculty are eligible to serve on a committee of the Senate.

The chairperson and at least two members of each Senate Committee must be members of the Senate. An exception is the Executive Committee comprising Faculty Senators alone.

Each committee, other than the Executive Committee, must consist of a minimum of seven members, who represent a minimum of four colleges.

Each committee, excluding the Budget Committee and the Nominating, Elections, and Procedures Committee, shall elect its chairperson for the next academic year in May.

The term of office for the Executive Committee members, excluding the Chair, shall be for one year. The term of office for members of all other standing committees shall be for three years.

All terms of office begin September 1.

The Chair of the Faculty Senate and one additional member selected from the Executive Committee will serve as representatives to the UT System Faculty Advisory Council.

Types of Committees

There shall be two types of Faculty Senate committees: standing committees and special committees.

Special Committees

Special committees may be created by act of the Faculty Senate in order to perform certain specific actions, review proposed Senate actions, conduct studies, or other appropriate functions of a temporary nature. In no case shall the existence of a special committee continue beyond September 1 following its creation unless extended by the Senate.

Standing Committees

Membership of all standing committees shall consist of at least seven members, who represent at least four colleges. The following shall be the standing committees of the Faculty Senate, listed alphabetically after the Executive Committee:

Executive Committee

The Committee shall consist of the Chair of the Faculty Senate, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary, the Parliamentarian, the Secretary of the General Faculty, the Chair of the Graduate Council, and the Chair of each standing committee. The immediate past Chair of the Faculty Senate will serve as an ex officio member in an advisory capacity for a year.

The Committee shall:

Prepare the monthly meeting agenda of the Faculty Senate within the guidelines established in these bylaws

Review reports

Screen and coordinate Senate business

Refer matters to standing committees or to the Graduate Council if necessary

Recommend the creation of special committees as needed

Academic Freedom, Evaluation and Merit Committee (members shall include at least one tenured, one tenure-track, and one lecturer)

Reviewing and making recommendations to the Senate on policies and procedures related to tenure, academic freedom, retention and termination of employment, evaluation, merit, and workload, including Comprehensive Periodic Evaluation and Third Year Review.

Budget Committee (the Vice-Chair of the Faculty Senate shall be the Chair of this committee)

The Budget Committee shall be responsible for:

Working with the Provost on reviewing the academic budget and making
recommendations to the Provost and President regarding appropriations and
expenditures.

Monitoring and/or conducting exercises that lead to recommendations or new
policy that might affect faculty salaries and/or benefits.

Committee on the Handbook of Operating Procedures (the Vice-Chair of the Faculty Senate shall be a member of this committee; a representative from the Chairs' Council, who will be recommended by the Chairs' Council and approved by the Senate, shall serve as a voting ex-officio member of this committee)

The Committee on the Handbook of Operating Procedures shall be responsible for:

Monitoring and reviewing proposed changes to the Handbook of Operating Procedures that affect the rights, responsibilities, and interests of the faculty.
Normally, review of proposed changes shall be undertaken in cooperation with the
appropriate Senate committee, as determined by the Chair of the Faculty Senate.

Formulating recommendations to the Senate concerning any revisions to the Handbook of Operating Procedures proposed by the Administration.

Nominating, Elections, and Procedures Committee (the Secretary shall be the Chair of this committee)

The Nominating, Elections, and Procedures Committee shall be responsible for:

Conducting the election of the Secretary of the General Faculty, as well as the
election of Senate Officers and Committees and other elections as needed.

Monitoring the effectiveness of Senate Bylaws and procedures.

Coordinating and presenting to the Senate proposed changes to the Senate
Bylaws or procedures.

Faculty Senate Research Committee (FSRC)

The Faculty Senate Research Committee (FSRC) shall be responsible for:

Reviewing and making recommendations on policies and procedures related to research activities of the faculty.

Interfacing between faculty and the administration with regard to pre-award and post-award services.

Reviewing and making recommendations to the Senate on HOP policies issued by the office of the Vice President for Research.

University Curriculum Committee (members shall include at least one tenured, one tenure-track, and one lecturer)

The University Curriculum Committee shall be responsible for:

Reviewing proposals for new and modified academic programs and submitting recommendations on such programs to the Senate, except in the area of graduate education.

Conducting reviews of general academic policy, monitoring the implimentation of academic policies and procedures, and making recommendations to the Senate regarding such policies and procedures.

Reviewing requirements of admission, graduation, honors, and degrees and making recommendations to the Senate, except in the area of graduate education.